Steakhouse 55 Permanently Closed?

[Jiggsawpuzzle35]

Not today, have you seen the price of eggs? Go back to steaks, it's cheaper!

I saw a house get egged the other day. Out of nowhere the house owners came out with a frying pan and spatula to make scrambled eggs. I guess times are tough.

 

[TP2000]

If they simply marketed it well like Steakhouse ‘71 at Walt Disney World. We wouldn’t be having this problem.

To be fair, the upscale Anaheim market within one mile of the Disneyland Hotel is very different than the midscale market within ten miles of the Contemporary. Due to the fact the Anaheim Convention Center is the largest on the West Coast and hosts millions of business convention guests per year, many traveling on an expense account.

Within just a few blocks walk of the Disneyland Hotel and the old (and poorly managed) Steakhouse '55 you find three of the top fine dining steakhouse chains in the nation. I've eaten at all three of them in Anaheim, the Anaheim outposts of Ruth's Chris and Morton's too many times to count, and they are all fine examples of the very high standards those restaurants have for themselves.

Anaheim's Resort District now features a Ruth's Chris, a Morton's, and a Fleming's. The Fleming's in particular is a short stroll south on Disneyland Drive from the DLH. The Ruth's Chris and Morton's are on the other side of the convention center, walkable or a 3 minute Uber ride away.

Steakhouse '55 and whatever low standards TDA now has for themselves just couldn't measure up to those three experts.

It was better that they closed Steakhouse '55 to save themselves the embarrassment.

Especially after the sloppiness I experienced during my last two visits to Steakhouse '55 in the late 2010's! I just wanted to hug those badly trained and managed CM's and tell them to focus on a mid-priced breakfast instead. Or maybe they could do a mid-priced spaghetti restaurant themed to Lady & The Tramp? Because a fine dining steakhouse experience was clearly way beyond their skillset to offer.

I still remember when our sweet but sloppy Steakhouse '55 waiter proudly told us how he had been working on the Canoe ride just a year earlier! No wonder he served from the left, and was entirely ignorant of my Silent Service queues when I was finished with a course.

 

[SuddenStorm]

To be fair, the upscale Anaheim market within one mile of the Disneyland Hotel is very different than the midscale market within ten miles of the Contemporary. Due to the fact the Anaheim Convention Center is the largest on the West Coast and hosts millions of business convention guests per year, many traveling on an expense account.

Within just a few blocks walk of the Disneyland Hotel and the old (and poorly managed) Steakhouse '55 you find three of the top fine dining steakhouse chains in the nation. I've eaten at all three of them in Anaheim, the Anaheim outposts of Ruth's Chris and Morton's too many times to count, and they are all fine examples of the very high standards those restaurants have for themselves.

I might need to check out the Morton's in Anaheim. I go to the Burbank location almost annually, and when I went a few weeks ago I was shocked at how far it had slipped. The food was fine- but the service was poor and completely lacking any of the details you'd expect at a restaurant that claims 'the best steak anywhere' and charges Morton's prices. The server, while nice, would have been better suited at an Outback Steakhouse. By comparison, I found the service at Club 33 in 2021 and Gordon Ramsay Steak in Vegas in early '22 to be far superior experiences.

This was in stark contrast to almost a decade of great dining experiences at Morton's, and I'd write it off as a fluke if I didn't know others who feel the same about the Burbank Morton's. Covid can't have screwed up the service industry that badly?

Anaheim's Resort District now features a Ruth's Chris, a Morton's, and a Fleming's. The Fleming's in particular is a short stroll south on Disneyland Drive from the DLH. The Ruth's Chris and Morton's are on the other side of the convention center, walkable or a 3 minute Uber ride away.

Steakhouse '55 and whatever low standards TDA now has for themselves just couldn't measure up to those three experts.

It was better that they closed Steakhouse '55 to save themselves the embarrassment.

Especially after the sloppiness I experienced during my last two visits to Steakhouse '55 in the late 2010's! I just wanted to hug those badly trained and managed CM's and tell them to focus on a mid-priced breakfast instead. Or maybe they could do a mid-priced spaghetti restaurant themed to Lady & The Tramp? Because a fine dining steakhouse experience was clearly way beyond their skillset to offer.

I still remember when our sweet but sloppy Steakhouse '55 waiter proudly told us how he had been working on the Canoe ride just a year earlier! No wonder he served from the left, and was entirely ignorant of my Silent Service queues when I was finished with a course.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't love the idea of a properly run steakhouse inside the Disneyland Resort. The problem is- while they often nail the design and decor, TDA is incapable of training their CM's to deliver an experience that suits the surroundings. The Blue Bayou should be the crown jewel of Disneyland's (not Club 33) sit down restaurants- but the service and menu have taken a steep dive by just about every online review.

The canoe CM is interesting- as the qualities that might make a CM excellent at the canoe ride probably won't transfer over to fine dining without serious training.

But this is a problem resort wide. Disneyland desperately wants to be a world class 'resort' and has spent a ton of money rebuilding their lands, building new lands, and retheming beloved and timeless attractions. It's just a shame none of that budget made it over to developing a customer service training regimine for the the resort.

 

[TP2000]

I'd be lying if I said I didn't love the idea of a properly run steakhouse inside the Disneyland Resort. The problem is- while they often nail the design and decor, TDA is incapable of training their CM's to deliver an experience that suits the surroundings.

This is the core problem. It's clearly and patently obvious that training and supervision of CM's has fallen mightily in the last 15 years. It really fell apart in the 2010's, and then Covid's 13 month closure put a whole box of nails in that training coffin.

None of the CM's know how to act any more, and none of their front line supervisors even know how to get people to act correctly.

Whatever is left of the Disney University, likely being run and managed by work-from-home folks in their PJ's, is clearly unable to train CM's properly to do a better-than-mediocre job. At best now, you can only hope for mediocre.

The canoe CM is interesting- as the qualities that might make a CM excellent at the canoe ride probably won't transfer over to fine dining without serious training.

He was a very nice kid. He had a nice personality and properly read his audience (our table) correctly that we'd be happy to chat for a few moments throughout our meal. But it was PAINFULLY obvious that he hadn't been trained correctly in fine dining skills. And he'd been working at Steakhouse '55 for about a year, as his "I worked on the Canoes until a year ago" comment explained. So not only was he inadequately trained for expensive fine dining, he was inadequately managed to identify his glaring skillset weaknesses and correct them with retraining and effective management.

For a year!

But this is a problem resort wide. Disneyland desperately wants to be a world class 'resort' and has spent a ton of money rebuilding their lands, building new lands, and retheming beloved and timeless attractions. It's just a shame none of that budget made it over to developing a customer service training regimine for the the resort.

Agreed. I can't remember a time when both parks looked aesthetically better with recent big-budget additions, or were being as well maintained and positioned for future growth as they currently are. The parks themselves actually look really good right now!

Then you cast your gaze a few feet closer to the ground and realize the tatted up CM with greasy hair is slumped over the churro cart while he facetimes with his girlfriend who is dropping salty language on speaker.

 

[AJFireman]

The previously non IP Lobby Bar in front of the old Steakhouse 55 is now rethemed to Sleeping Beauty Broken Spell Lounge

 

[Disney Vault]

I feel like they have been working on this forever. They had it pretty much ready to go for so long. I wonder what the delay was

 

[CaptinEO]

The previously non IP Lobby Bar in front of the old Steakhouse 55 is now rethemed to Sleeping Beauty Broken Spell Lounge

This is more Disney and will sell SO much Sleeping Beauty Merchandise! Maybe the dining room can become Old Yeller themed.

 

[jmuboy]

I still hold hope some casual table service (possibly diner-esque) would come to the actual old steakhouse dining room. This hotel competes with DTD so a higher end dining location likely isn’t needed. But a mid price casual table service dining I feel could still work, especially with all the new DVC units on site. Always thought a Tomorrowland theme diner could fit well in this hotel.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Maybe they just didn't get enough business at Steakhouse 55 to make it viable?

As much as I agree they should have something there, and a proper table service restaurant for the hotel, when it was open people here spent much more time making fun of it than actually eating there.

 

[Touchdown]

What’s funny is the concept is doing great in Florida. Something highly themed would also do great here. Doing a fantasy forest concept (with Princess Dinner,) Haunted Mansion restaurant, Skipper Canteen, or Space Restaurant I think would do really well there.

 

[PiratesMansion]

What’s funny is the concept is doing great in Florida. Something highly themed would also do great here. Doing a fantasy forest concept (with Princess Dinner,) Haunted Mansion restaurant, Skipper Canteen, or Space Restaurant I think would do really well there.

I could see something like Walt's at DL Paris doing great business in that spot (with just as much theming but better food).

 

[StarWarsGirl]

What’s funny is the concept is doing great in Florida.

DL has the counter service game down pat.

WDW has overall better TS (with exceptions)

I was shocked to read that a CM who had been working the canoes just a year prior was a Steakhouse 55 server. At WDW, to work at a premium restaurant, these servers have to have YEARS of experience and go through extensive training. They don't let just anyone serve at these restaurants. Even the ones not run by Disney (Flying Fish and Space 220) have similar standards.

Steakhouse 71 is better than Steakhouse 55 was. Steakhouse 71 is also better than the Wave (former restaurant in that space) was.

The lack of (good) TS locations at MK also is a factor. You can hop on the monorail and have dinner at a resort and then come back to the park. It's not like you can just easily go off property or to DS. It's a hike, especially from MK.

 

[Centauri Space Station]

DL has the counter service game down pat.

WDW has overall better TS (with exceptions)

I was shocked to read that a CM who had been working the canoes just a year prior was a Steakhouse 55 server. At WDW, to work at a premium restaurant, these servers have to have YEARS of experience and go through extensive training. They don't let just anyone serve at these restaurants. Even the ones not run by Disney (Flying Fish and Space 220) have similar standards.

Steakhouse 71 is better than Steakhouse 55 was. Steakhouse 71 is also better than the Wave (former restaurant in that space) was.

The lack of (good) TS locations at MK also is a factor. You can hop on the monorail and have dinner at a resort and then come back to the park. It's not like you can just easily go off property or to DS. It's a hike, especially from MK.

I would say MK has decent options with Skippers Canteen, sleepy hollow, casey’s corner, Gaston’s. Be our guest and cinderella are pretty good but overpriced. QS at WDW that’s good includes Satuli, Regal Eagle, Connections, commissary, docking bay seven, harambe market, and at Disney springs there is eet, blaze, d-luxe burger, chicken guy, Cookes of Dublin

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I would say MK has decent options with Skippers Canteen, sleepy hollow, casey’s corner, Gaston’s. Be our guest and cinderella are pretty good but overpriced. QS at WDW that’s good includes Satuli, Regal Eagle, Connections, commissary, docking bay seven, harambe market, and at Disney springs there is eet, blaze, d-luxe burger, chicken guy, Cookes of Dublin

Oh, there's definitely good food to be found at WDW. But QS food at DL is far better than at MK. Other parks are far better.

I'm not the biggest fan of Skipper Canteen. Plaza is probably my favorite TS at MK. BOG is disappointing because it was SOOO good when it first opened and the quality has gone down while price has increased. Surprise, surprise.

I have to ask...what are you doing eating at Regal Eagle and Connections...when you're in Epcot? In Future World (or whatever they call it now) try Sunshine Seasons inside the Land. In World Showcase...pick a country. Not China. Preferably France or Mexico.

 

[PiratesMansion]

I would say MK has decent options with Skippers Canteen, sleepy hollow, casey’s corner, Gaston’s. Be our guest and cinderella are pretty good but overpriced. QS at WDW that’s good includes Satuli, Regal Eagle, Connections, commissary, docking bay seven, harambe market, and at Disney springs there is eet, blaze, d-luxe burger, chicken guy, Cookes of Dublin

The CS situation at MK is far from ideal.

Sleepy Hollow serves waffles, Casey's hot dogs, Gaston's very little. None of which are really ideal for full meals, unless you like hot dogs a LOT more than I do.

Nothing else even warranted the list. That's a problem.

No matter how you slice it, the food situation at Magic Kingdom is straight up embarrassing compared to Disneyland, TDL, HKDL, and SDL. They might pull ahead of Paris, but that's not saying much.

 

[Centauri Space Station]

I have to ask...what are you doing eating at Regal Eagle and Connections...when you're in Epcot? In Future World (or whatever they call it now) try Sunshine Seasons inside the Land. In World Showcase...pick a country. Not China. Preferably France or Mexico.

Oh Les Halles is my fav QS! I eat at all locations not just those two. At connections the general two salad and waffle, at regal i like the s’mores brownie, mac and cheese and ribs.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

Oh Les Halles is my fav QS! I eat at all locations not just those two. At connections the general two salad and waffle, at regal i like the s’mores brownie, mac and cheese and ribs.

Try the creperie window. The ham crepe is SOOOO good. I also like the butter and sugar crepe with a scoop of ice cream. The berry crepe is super popular; I can't have it because I'm allergic to strawberries. There's also a Nutella one.

Seasons at the Land has a really good half chicken, and they do stir fry over there too. Their sandwiches are pretty good too. Can't really go wrong with anything over there. I go into the Land when it's going to storm. Two rides, a food place, lots of seating, and indoors.

 

[Centauri Space Station]

Try the creperie window. The ham crepe is SOOOO good. I also like the butter and sugar crepe with a scoop of ice cream. The berry crepe is super popular; I can't have it because I'm allergic to strawberries. There's also a Nutella one.

Seasons at the Land has a really good half chicken, and they do stir fry over there too. Their sandwiches are pretty good too. Can't really go wrong with anything over there. I go into the Land when it's going to storm. Two rides, a food place, lots of seating, and indoors.

Yeah The Land is amazing! I used to love the pork chop there but the rotisserie chicken is great

 

[StarWarsGirl]

The CS situation at MK is far from ideal.

Sleepy Hollow serves waffles, Casey's hot dogs, Gaston's very little. None of which are really ideal for full meals, unless you like hot dogs a LOT more than I do.

Nothing else even warranted the list. That's a problem.

No matter how you slice it, the food situation at Magic Kingdom is straight up embarrassing compared to Disneyland, TDL, HKDL, and SDL. They might pull ahead of Paris, but that's not saying much.

MK should be embarrassed just compared to the other theme parks.

And they used to have better food. Cosmic Ray's used to do a half chicken. Now it's like, burgers, fries. Columbia Harbor House (which I largely can't do because of the shrimp) has also apparently gone downhill.

The only saving grace is that if you don't want bad QS, Contemporary is a short walk away and Contempo Cafe has pretty good QS. Grand Floridian also has good QS. I'm not as wild about Poly.

 

[WDWTrojan]

Once WDW got the dining plan it kind of decimated food quality across the resort as restaurants were forced to homogenize menus and ingredients. Signature restaurants still kept some level of autonomy, even though everything is still tightly controlled.